The earliest known runes were simply different colored stones that were carried around by nomadic tribes. Each stone stood for something different depending on shape, color and where it fell. Runes evolved quickly to include pictoral representations of alphabets, animals, sacred symbols and various other meanings. Runes are probably one of the easiest forms of divination to master.

There are numerous different kinds of runes. There are many arguements about where symbolic runes originated, though it is generally agreed on that they orginated from a culture with a rich and useful alphabet. Pictorial rune stones have been found dating as far back as 2000 years ago. These are a set of runes found from the ancient germanic tribes that wandered Europe. However, evidence of runes has been found from ancient Summeria, Egypt, Australia, and Africa.

Today, the most commonly used runes are Futhark runes, or the Norse runes. However, Goddess runes and Sacred Runes are also used, as well as Aboriginal runes and Elemental runes. Runes are used much like tarot cards, though their meanings are simpler. You choose the stones from a bag at random and place them into spreads.

Runes, unlike tarot are easy to make. I know people who have made them in hardened clay, wooden coins and even just painted onto evenly sized stones. I strongly suggest making your own runes. This way you are more in tuned with the energy of them.